luluwoohoo's reviews
471 reviews

The Warbler by Sarah Beth Durst 
☀️☀️☀️⛅

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! 

A mysterious tale of magical realism that was an enjoyable, albeit predictable, journey of womanhood across generations. 

This book had a strong premise which I had no problems jumping on board with despite its oddity. The first act was relatively slow but informative; the second act was significantly better, though it does get bogged down by the ever-changing POVs; the third act was unfortunately where things fell apart for me. I can buy into the vague curse logic but the resolution of it in this form felt contradictory. I don't mind having unanswered questions but when many other aspects of the plot are heavy-handed and signposted a mile away, it is unsatisfying.

I liked Elisa as the main narrator, and her perspective is beautifully written - Durst's prose is generally very nice throughout. Being given Lori and Rose's context was helpful too, but it did slow down the pace significantly and left me ahead of Elisa by a long way in the final stretch. I struggled more with the male characters who all felt a bit underdeveloped in comparison to the women, though it's obviously a story focused on womanhood. 

Overall I found this to be an enjoyable read but the predictability of the reveals and the odd logic of the magical realism elements left me a bit underwhelmed. 

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel 
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌤️

A hauntingly human examination of life after the end of the world.

This book does have a plot - a very good one that is well paced and feels realistic - but I feel like it's more appropriately placed in the category of "vibes > plot". Things do happen, very important and life-changing things, but the magic of this story is the internal, emotional journey each of the characters travels on. St John Mandel's prose is exquisite from start to finish, which helps deliver this tone and style.

The key characters of this novel are all beautifully fleshed out and uniquely written. There are actually a great number of people to keep track of but I never found myself confused between them. Each POV adds another layer to the broad sweeping picture of humanity. The intertwining of their lives pre and post pandemic forms a spiderweb of connections that feels satisfying in that 'only possible in literature' sense. 

Of the themes explored here, the legacy we leave behind us is arguably the most poignant one. In a post-apocalyptic world, seeing what survives in the hearts and minds of others paints a picture of how important art and culture are to us, as well as the technology we've lost.

For a dystopian novel, this book flips the script by proving to be gentle, penetrating, subtle yet full of heart and soul. I fell right into it every time I picked it up. It's a remarkable piece of fiction that should be read by everyone. 

The Lost Book Of Magic by Amelia Mellor
☀️☀️☀️☀️⛅

This book is jam packed with action, history, magic and love; it is the perfect ending to such a captivating fantasy trilogy! 

After learning about Pearl and Vally in book one, and Billy and Kezia in book two, seeing the group converge into one super team was so satisfying! The growth we see from the children in particular is wonderful, especially through their relationship with the Obscurosmith and how they respond to his, well, dilemma. 

The plot is, as ever, a rollercoaster of moments filled with adventure, tension, and mystery. I struggled with these riddles more than the previous books (which shows that history is not my strong suit!) but the logic and follow through all functioned incredibly well to showcase the city and build the pace across the second and third act.

The emphasis on iconic Melbourne locations and landmarks works so well within the structure of the Obscurosmith's challenge, and really highlights the cultural and social impact these spaces have on people of that era, and also today. It truly is a love letter to Melbourne ❤️

The journey was spectacular and heartfelt and left me feeling warm and fuzzy afterwards. I thoroughly recommend this book - and the entire series - to readers young and old seeking something both whimsical and mature and very, very fun. 

Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan
☀️☀️

A seriously confused fantasy book that confounded me from start to (I almost didn't) finish.

I'm going to break this review into good and bad, mostly because I'm still so confused by the contrasts here.

Good: 
The world-building is pretty ambitious for a story of this type, and it's mostly logical and coherent. The writing was sometimes hit and miss but did have nice one liners across the prose of this book. The cover art is stunning!

Bad:
The heavy handed themes explored throughout this novel feel at odds with the parody style and cheap laughs. These warring aspects mean I spent most of the book in a state of whiplash, never quite knowing what I was supposed to take away from it. 
The premise itself is old enough to have been done significantly better a hundred times over. The references, slang and preachy tangents on women's empowerment and body autonomy feel seriously dated too, to the point of being cringe-worthy (I felt like I was reading from an early 00's Tumblr) 
The supporting characters are all one-dimensional archetypes simply ticking trope boxes, which might have been the point but left me not caring about anyone. The length was significantly too long; I honestly think the same plot could have been achieved in half the page count if it was edited well.

I barely finished this, and I'm positive I wouldn't revisit it, but I don't inherently think it's a shit book...it's just very clearly not for me.

 

Fence volumes 1-5 by C.S. Pacat,  Johanna The Mad
☀️☀️☀️🌥️

A fun graphic novel series that paints an interesting and enjoyable universe, but fails so far to lean into its full potential.

This series has a solid collection of unique characters and a good concept, but I have found its focus too limited to the fencing itself. I have enjoyed the competition so far and understand its relevance in understanding their psychology, but we still haven't been given enough opportunities to expand the universe or the backstories of the characters across these 5 volumes. I like tension as much as the next guy but the lack of progression in the interpersonal relationships at this stage is disappointing; I wish the volumes were longer to allow for more development beyond hinting at popup romance tropes and not following through.

The art is lovely and expressive and easy to follow along with. Having full colour throughout is a treat and does help visually, especially during the matches. 

Fence volumes 1-5 by C.S. Pacat,  Johanna The Mad
☀️☀️☀️🌥️

A fun graphic novel series that paints an interesting and enjoyable universe, but fails so far to lean into its full potential.

This series has a solid collection of unique characters and a good concept, but I have found its focus too limited to the fencing itself. I have enjoyed the competition so far and understand its relevance in understanding their psychology, but we still haven't been given enough opportunities to expand the universe or the backstories of the characters across these 5 volumes. I like tension as much as the next guy but the lack of progression in the interpersonal relationships at this stage is disappointing; I wish the volumes were longer to allow for more development beyond hinting at popup romance tropes and not following through.

The art is lovely and expressive and easy to follow along with. Having full colour throughout is a treat and does help visually, especially during the matches. 

Fence volumes 1-5 by C.S. Pacat,  Johanna The Mad
☀️☀️☀️🌥️

A fun graphic novel series that paints an interesting and enjoyable universe, but fails so far to lean into its full potential.

This series has a solid collection of unique characters and a good concept, but I have found its focus too limited to the fencing itself. I have enjoyed the competition so far and understand its relevance in understanding their psychology, but we still haven't been given enough opportunities to expand the universe or the backstories of the characters across these 5 volumes. I like tension as much as the next guy but the lack of progression in the interpersonal relationships at this stage is disappointing; I wish the volumes were longer to allow for more development beyond hinting at popup romance tropes and not following through.

The art is lovely and expressive and easy to follow along with. Having full colour throughout is a treat and does help visually, especially during the matches. 

Fence volumes 1-5 by C.S. Pacat,  Johanna The Mad
☀️☀️☀️🌥️

A fun graphic novel series that paints an interesting and enjoyable universe, but fails so far to lean into its full potential.

This series has a solid collection of unique characters and a good concept, but I have found its focus too limited to the fencing itself. I have enjoyed the competition so far and understand its relevance in understanding their psychology, but we still haven't been given enough opportunities to expand the universe or the backstories of the characters across these 5 volumes. I like tension as much as the next guy but the lack of progression in the interpersonal relationships at this stage is disappointing; I wish the volumes were longer to allow for more development beyond hinting at popup romance tropes and not following through.

The art is lovely and expressive and easy to follow along with. Having full colour throughout is a treat and does help visually, especially during the matches. 

Fence volumes 1-5 by C.S. Pacat,  Johanna The Mad
☀️☀️☀️🌥️

A fun graphic novel series that paints an interesting and enjoyable universe, but fails so far to lean into its full potential.

This series has a solid collection of unique characters and a good concept, but I have found its focus too limited to the fencing itself. I have enjoyed the competition so far and understand its relevance in understanding their psychology, but we still haven't been given enough opportunities to expand the universe or the backstories of the characters across these 5 volumes. I like tension as much as the next guy but the lack of progression in the interpersonal relationships at this stage is disappointing; I wish the volumes were longer to allow for more development beyond hinting at popup romance tropes and not following through.

The art is lovely and expressive and easy to follow along with. Having full colour throughout is a treat and does help visually, especially during the matches. 

Running Close To The Wind by Alexandra Rowland (audiobook narrated by Casey Jones)
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌤️

A laugh-out-loud queer pirate romp that manages impressive world-building and a captivating plot without compromising on the humour at its heart.

I don't think I've ever laughed quite so hard reading a book! This story has a very specific type of humour - silly, vulgar and slapstick in nature - which appeals to me however unexpectedly. Rowland walks the tightrope well, never letting a running joke get tiresome, and balances this humour with a great deal of earnestness. There is a lot of talk about sex but the most we get is fade to black, which is surprising but not overly disappointing.

A story such as this cannot succeed without a cast of colourful characters. Avra is undoubtedly cringey but is equally endearing; Tev is gruff but loveable; Julian is intriguing and hot. With the exception of Julian, who I'd like a bit more exploration of, I found all of the characters well developed with unique voices. And speaking of voices: Casey Jones absolutely delivers with the audiobook - his accents and comedic timing are perfect for this!

The world-building is surprisingly comprehensive, though this is in part due to existing in the same universe as Rowland's previous book. I appreciate the details we are given on pirate history, ministerial positions, and the utmost importance of the cake competition. 

This book strikes me as one that will be loved or hated based entirely on a person's interpretation of the humour. For me, it is outstanding and something I will revisit again and again. What a delight!